World of illusion.

Aria’s POV.

The day had gone as usual. TV shows, meetings, and productions.

Aria checked the time. 6pm on the dot. 

The rain wasn’t showing any sign of stopping anytime soon and she needed to pick the children.

Her phone buzzed. 

She tapped on the screen. It was her children’s classroom teacher.

“Hello,”

“Mrs. Rossi. Your kids are inside but the school is closing. I couldn’t wait anymore. Please come and take them home.”

Aria’s lungs slammed on her rib cage.

“Ma. Can you hold a little? I’m on my way…”

The phone went dead.

“Hello? Ma, are you there?”

The kids had always stayed with Mr. David’s wife after school.

But she traveled and will be back by the weekend that leaves Aria with no other choice than to pick them herself.

Andrea didn’t care about them. 

The first time she had pleaded with him to have his driver pick them, he refused.

He said he didn’t employ his driver for insignificant purposes.

Her hands moved before her body could. She pulled her bag over her head and ran toward her car.

*****

When she arrived at the school premises, Luca and Laura were nowhere to be found.

She quickly ran out of her car, toward the school gate.

The rain stormed so heavily, she was drenched in it.

Anger and fear tightened in her chest. 

She tapped on her screen, trying to reach the teacher, but it didn't connect.

“No, goodness. Laura?” Her voice was loud and trembling.

“Luca?”

She didn’t seem to notice the black sedan car parked across the street.

Aria almost twisted her ankle.

She tried to reach for Andrea, he ignored the call.

A car approached her in slow motion.

Heavy thunder lighted the sky, her eyes were almost bruised in tears.

“Mama!”

Without hesitation, she turned, eyes searching.

“Luca? Laura?” Voice sharp.

The car stopped in front of her. 

Her eyes caught his as the glass rolled down.

A man in a navy suit. His eyes were grey, sharp jawlines, his presence was overwhelming.

“Mama!”

“Laura? Who are you? Why do you have my kids?”

Her mouth moved before she could control it.

He didn’t say anything, their eyes locked on each other.

He looked like someone she used to know. 

Silence stretched between them, neither said a word.

“Your kids are okay. You shouldn’t leave them in a lonely street by themselves.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to…”

“Mama, we're okay. This uncle is nice to us. He didn’t leave us under the rain.”

“I’m sorry baby. I was late. I promise this will be the last time it happens.”

The kids crossed over to her car, she tucked them in.

“Thank you. I owe you one.”

Her voice was soft and shaky.

“You’ve got smart kids. Make sure you don’t lose them.”

He drove off.

“Looks like she doesn’t recognize you,” his assistant Marco said, hands on steering.

He shook his head.

“She’s just surprised.”

“You didn’t say anything to her.”

“I don’t need to say anything. My act already said it all.”

******

Aria almost bumped into another car. 

“Mama, watch out!” Luca said, grabbing Laura.

“Oh dear. I’m sorry. What was I thinking?”

The car horned violently at her as she waved her hand in apology.

“Are you okay?” Luca asked.

“Don’t worry about me baby. Hold on to your seat belts.”

Her hands turned slowly on the steering, her eyes were focused on the road.

“Mama, that uncle is so nice to us. I wish he was our father.”

“Don’t say that honey. He might be someone else’s father.”

“This was the first time someone had ever been nice to us,” Laura argued.

Aria clenched her hands on the steering, the kids panicked.

“Sorry honey, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Do you know him?” Luca pushed harder.

She didn’t answer right away, she let the silence linger. 

Then she cleared her throat.

“No. I don’t know him. Maybe he was just a nice person.”

“But you look at him like he was someone you know.”

Her phone buzzed. 

She ignored it. It buzzed again.

She stretched her hand to pick it up. 

“Hey, Andrea. I’m driving. I’ll get back to you when I get home…”

“Quit your stupid excuses. My mum’s home. She’s sick. She’ll be staying with us till her illness gets better.”

“Wait, what? You didn’t inform me ahead…”

“Do I need your permission to bring anyone into my house?”

“Go make dinner, she's hungry!”

The phone went dead.

*****

In a few seconds, she got home. 

She walked the kids inside. “Grandma is home!” She announced.

“I’m sure she’ll be happy to have you guys around.”

“Nooo,” Laura squealed.

“Laura, she’s gonna roast us alive with her mean words.”

“Honey, don’t say that. Grandma misses you…”

A voice came from behind.

“Aria and her little bastards,” Andrea’s mother called out.

“Here she comes,” Luca said, panicking.

“My kids are not bastards, mother. They have names.”

“You’ve grown bold! Talking back to me?”

Aria twisted her hands into a fist.

“We’re not bastards,” Laura cried out.

Moria had never been in support of their marriage.

She had always hated Aria and her kids so much and saw Aria as a thorn in her flesh.

If she had the chance to kick them out, she wouldn’t hesitate.

Humiliation was the only weapon she had against Aria. And whenever she called her kids bastards, Andrea never defended the kids.

“I’ll be staying here from now on. You’ve to be on your best behavior. I’m not Andrea, I won’t take any stupid attitude from you.”

Aria didn’t say anything, she walked away, pretending she didn’t exist.

“I’m talking to you, little slut.”

Aria turned, but then, Luca grabbed her hands.

“Mama, let’s go.”

Moria watched them walk away as anger and disgust erupted over her.

*****

The Wolfe empire was a very big one owned by Ethan, the most feared Don in the city.

Some called him the devil, while some called him the grim reaper.

Nobody dared to cross him. Even when they had the courage to, they never came out unscathed.

“How’s the situation with the Moretti family going?” Ethan said, looking outside the city.

“Mr. Moretti is still in a coma. His mistress, Gwen, is the one in charge of the family.”

“You know what to do.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There should be mercy for None of them who has ever laid their hands on Aria and her kids.”